Oxfordshire County Council Educational Psychology Service

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Educational Psychologists (EP) support the rights of children and young people. We promote equal opportunities and are sensitive to the gender, ethnic, linguistic and cultural background of the child and family as well as to the emotional well-being and developmental levels of the child.

The EPS is committed to valuing diversity and challenging racism. Through ongoing learning, proactive awareness raising, empathy and reflection we aim to be effective allies to people who experience discrimination or racism.

We have a responsibility for safeguarding and for all children who are vulnerable within education including children and young people the local authority cares for. The Educational Psychology Service promotes the well-being and learning of children and young people. We work with children, parents, teachers,  schools and settings  to improve outcomes for children and young people so that they make progress, enjoy their time in education and are prepared for adulthood.

All EPs are registered as practitioner psychologists with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and abide by the Code of Conduct of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

What we do:
Educational Psychologists are highly skilled professionals who help people to understand how they think, feel, learn and behave. We work with children and young people aged 0-25 in a range of settings, including nurseries, mainstream schools, special schools and colleges. Our work can be undertaken at the individual, class or whole-school level.

We work with children and young people who may be experiencing difficulties in their learning, behaviour, social interaction, communication, emotional well-being, physical or sensory skills. Our work includes:

  • Talking to children. We may ask them about their feelings, friendships and what they think is working well.
  • Assessing difficulties children may be having with their learning and wellbeing.
  • Working with young people, schools and families to identify clear and achievable outcomes to enable the child or young person to make progress.
  • Working in partnership with parents and schools in the best interests of the child.
  • Providing advice and training on how schools might help children to learn and develop.
  • Advising schools on teaching approaches and improvements that can be made to learning environments.
  • Supporting schools to set up/implement interventions. 
  • Provide support following critical incidents.

Educational psychologists keep up-to-date with best practice, national guidance and research relating to how children learn and make sure this informs local policy and practice.

Contact details:
The link Educational Psychologist (EP) for the school is the initial point of contact; please discuss your concerns with the school SENCO if you think your child or a young person needs to access the service.

The Educational Psychology Service Interim Principal Educational Psychologist is Deb Smit, email: deborah.smit@Oxfordshire.gov.uk, tel: 07919 308745

There are 3 area teams (North, Central and south):

South Team

Caroline Rendell, Joint Senior Educational Psychologist, email: caroline.rendell@oxfordshire.gov.uk, tel: 07747 457828

Anne-Marie Baverstock, Joint Senior Educational Psychologist, email: annemarie.baverstock@oxfordshire.gov.uk, tel: 07720 167607  

Central Team

Jess Chiappella , Joint Senior Educational Psychologist, email: jessamine.chiappella@oxfordshire.gov.uk, tel: 07770 582646

Caroline Duncan, Joint Senior Educational Psychologist, email: caroline.duncan@oxfordshire.gov.uk, tel: 07554 103373

North Team

Kathryn Davidson, Senior Educational Psychologist, email: kathryn.davidson@oxfordshire.gov.uk,  tel : 07584 909498

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Who is this service for?
Many children and young people will experience difficulties at some point during their education and may benefit from help with certain skills; most of these children will have been identified as having Special Educational Needs. Where concern persists in these areas despite appropriate learning opportunities and intervention, Educational Psychologists (EPs) bring a psychological perspective to improve learning and well-being.

The Educational Psychology Service is available to Oxfordshire Schools on a traded basis. Parents who have concerns about their child’s progress should discuss this with the school SENCO in the first instance. 

Educational Psychologists also fulfil a statutory role for Oxfordshire County Council which includes:

  • Completing the psychological advice for an Education and Health Care assessments (EHCNA) for children and young people aged 0-25. 
  • Acting as the Education Monitoring Officer (EMO) for children and young people in out of county provision.
  • Participating in tribunal (SENDIST) work as required
  • Responding to critical incidents.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Deb Smit
Contact Position
Interim Principal Educational Psychologist
E-mail
Deborah.Smit@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

Where to go

Address
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
Postcode
OX14 3JD
View OX14 3JD on a map

Costs

Costs

Availability

Other notes

Working in Schools and Settings in response to Covid-19.

The safety, wellbeing and happiness of all children, young people and adults working in schools is everyone's concern when considering how we work in schools.  The EPS is returning to working in schools when it is considered essential to work directly with children or young people. ( e.g. to independently gather their views for a statutory assessment). Some work may be completed virtually through video link. When visiting schools  EPs will comply with the EPS and school's risk assessment, maintaining social distancing and using face coverings when this is not possible. 

Additional Information

Providing services to
0 - 4 years (pre-school)
4 - 11 years (primary school age)
11 - 16 years (secondary school age)
16 + years
Children
Young people
Disabled children/young people
Notes

Working in Schools and Settings in response to Covid-19.

The safety, wellbeing and happiness of all children, young people and adults working in schools is everyone's concern when considering how we work in schools.  The EPS is returning to working in schools when it is considered essential to work directly with children or young people. ( e.g. to independently gather their views for a statutory assessment). Some work may be completed virtually through video link. When visiting schools  EPs will comply with the EPS and school's risk assessment, maintaining social distancing and using face coverings when this is not possible. 

Supporting people with
Physical disability
Hearing impairment
Vision impairment
Challenging behaviour
Learning difficulty
Mental health conditions
Autistic Spectrum Condition
Communication impairment

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